CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Today's rubbish unwarranted comments and why

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  1. gembo
    Member

    This a.m I dinged bell and went under wide bridge over canal towpath. Chap coming the other way who was miles back and the bridge was one with wide path felt obliged to tell me I should get a bell. (I think I had also been whistling). Tonight on aqueduct I stopped and pulled in at a parapet to let pedestrian pass. He took one earbud out and told me you are supposed to dismount you idiot.

    Little later I remembered I have been wearing the pink hi viz top which some folk do not like. Not as bad as the orange hi viz fair sale tank top. That has them queueing up to offer abusive comment.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  2. rbrtwtmn
    Member

    The day I got really irritated at this was one in the summer when I took the family out.

    We debated the various options but couldn't face the traffic (despite both kids being really competent and utterly dependable in terms of doing what they are told when they are told - and more than this even being able to ride as a tight nippy formation).

    In the end, despite the boredom we opted for using the canal for some of the ride. We cycled as carefully as could be achieved. Really - no family could have done this with more care, more consideration, and more inconvenience to ourselves.

    It was busy. We did our absolute utmost not to be a pain - but it just was busy.

    Eventually, hot in the sun, we all stopped to take a layer off. We'd not stopped among people where it was really really busy, but inevitably there was one person in the vicinity. He chose that time to complain loudly about how we'd stopped in front of him - why had we passed and then stopped...

    So my conclusion, as always, was that it absolutely does not matter how hard you try - how considerate you are - if you're on a bike you become subject to public derision, moans, being shouted at, and so on. You're pushed into scenarios where you put others to inconvenience - pushed into pedestrian space because the city can't be brave enough to do something better.

    So I ask myself - why bother to try... is there anything gained by being nice. Perhaps those who run red lights, go screaming past old ladies scaring them to death, and shout F... You ! to the world have it right.

    Then I go out another day and continue to take as much care as I can - to be as polite as I can... but I have to say that I stopped criticising those who bend the rules (unless they actually put people at risk).

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. gembo
    Member

    @rbrtwtmn, I am with you. I try to be better than I have been in the past. So I rarely criticise these days, I did shake my head at the car driver who fired through a red light at diggers junction the other night. As the lights went through their sequence the cars coming off the WAR were still being driven through when I had green so they just had to meet each other. However, I am now mindful that in the pink jersey I am just too visible and will try to curb the head shaking.

    I was ok with the bell guy as that was actually funny given my love of bells. But the guy who removed his earbud to call me an idiot for having the courtesy to move ut of his way had the compliment returned.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  4. Min
    Member

    So I ask myself - why bother to try... is there anything gained by being nice. Perhaps those who run red lights, go screaming past old ladies scaring them to death, and shout F... You ! to the world have it right.

    I know exactly what you mean.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. LaidBack
    Member

    I got a comment from a taxi driver whilst stopped in the ASL at Kings Theatre junction.
    Combination of the fact that I had lights, was signalling and riding on a lower bike set him off.
    He was on the filter lane going left.
    "Yes we all know you're going right ****head!"

    Nice. Maybe one reason why people listen to mp3s on their bike.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. gembo
    Member

    All very mellow on the same route tonight, highlight was premonition there was someone way up ahead on the WoL path so I rang my bell and he switched on a floodlight which illuminate the route for many miles.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. NiallA
    Member

    Laidback - that's really bizarre. He was objecting to you doing all the things that taxi drivers (and others) complain that cyclists never do (wait at red, use lights, signal)? We really cannot win, can we?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. Min
    Member

    Yes, I don't even know what to say to that one! :-/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. Rob
    Member

    Unwarranted advice on lane choice this morning - "maybe you could move over to let us pass?".

    He'd been stuck behind me for the length of Great Junction Street so it may have been warranted if I hadn't in turn been stuck behind traffic which dispersed just moments before he moved up on my left to impart this advice. Moments later I turned right.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  10. gembo
    Member

    Had Stonking ride home tonight, bit late for a Friday so very quiet but also still quite light. Waved marco Pantani (west Lothian clarion version) through after the aqueduct and chap behind marco also overtook. Nearly made it up the slope to the WoL path whilst my second overtaker went the long way (I used to always make it up this slope but combo of weaker lungs, lower branches, intermittent mojo and shopping weighing me down has taken its toll). Anyway second overtaker had clearly slowed so on long straight drag after colinton i overtook again which prompted chap to chase me to Currie which was nice as his light and my light made it nice and bright for the rabbits and dog walkers. I never went down Ray.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Got a sarchastic "you're welcome" from two young ladies on the path alongside Canonmills Tesco yesterday evening who had been occupying the entire path and condensed themselves down to 2/3 of the path as I approached. I think she was expecting me to say thankyou for not crashing into them or something.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. Nelly
    Member

    Gembo, must be the electrical interference from the auroura or summat.

    I went west on canal yesterday morning, almost taken out by a "non-bell ringer" at meggetland bridge, then was roundly abused coming out the other side "nose in, nose in" he shouted. All a bit much at half seven.

    In other news, I know your West Lothian Clarion guy - Malcolm, used to work with me, very nice guy.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. gembo
    Member

    @nelly, Malcolm is often overtaking me with his distinctive head gear. Last night I gave him a north to Alaska wave to signal he should bomb past me as we left the aqueduct. He did once comment I was dressed for the summer on day in December last year but I would not class this as rubbish unwarranted comment, rather just a bit of banter.

    Could be aurora interference but mine was at start of week after which everyone has been lovely to everyone. I feel comments should never be made before 7.30a.m. That is uncouth

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. HankChief
    Member

    I had an odd one last week.

    Navigating the northern reaches of the Gogar Roundabout and about to cross the tram entrance, I notice a motorbike is signalling to turn in so I signal and make what I think I eye contact and it appears to me that he nodded and slowed a bit, so I go across the junction comfortably in front of him only to give me a barrage of effing and jeffing.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. algo
    Member

    I was waiting to turn right from Salisbury Place onto Causewayside. I had a passenger on the back and lights and plenty of reflectives on the seat. I was positioned right, but wasn't indicating as I was edging very slowly forward. The car in front was distracted and was being sluggish setting off on the green, despite creeping into the ASL on red. The car behind came up very close behind us and shouted out of the window at us, as we were turning right "How is that safe mate?". I turned round and gave chase up Grange Road, but alas he had disappeared. I can only imagine he was referring to my lack of indication. I would have liked to catch him to invite him to demonstrate to me his best outstretched right arm on a top heavy bike at 1-2 mph. I suppose he probably had something to say about my lidless state but that comment can retreat into the sunless place whence it came.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @algo

    That incident is so annoying that I just put my glass of orange juice down inside my coffee cup.

    I fear the guy will have been refering to your transporting a child by bicycle, not your failing to signal. I know one person who views this as akin to taking a baby base jumping.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  17. algo
    Member

    @IWRATS - thank you for the commiseration. This man is now also responsible for a ruined breakfast beverage. I wonder how he sleeps at night.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. jdanielp
    Member

    @algo possibly even two ruined breakfast beverages?!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  19. algo
    Member

    @jdanielp - IWRATS will have to confirm, but if that is the case, I'm sending out for any related cctv...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  20. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Kap: "Got a sarchastic "you're welcome" from two young ladies on the path"

    I got exactly the same response from a couple of women with kids on the path between Craigleith and Drylaw the week before last. I was going slowly and was well over to the left, they were taking up most of the width of the path.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  21. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Neither beverage was ruined, boys. Bit of spillage. Coffee table is weatherbeaten anyway. No biggie.

    On the way back from picking up @nobrake's donor fork and frame I got shouted at by an HGV driver. He thought the way the frame was loaded on the trailer was illegal.

    Because he was aggressive I was defiantly sarcastic in return. (Oooh!) But, a minute later I countered my inner self-righteous cyclist and asked myself if he might in fact have a point. I thought he might, so I stopped and reloaded with less lateral juttage.

    It's a shame two citizens can't have a conversation about roadcraft without shouting and swearing and sarcasm.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  22. Min
    Member

    I have a method for dealing with pedestrians who do absolutely nothing to let you get past and it is simply to make some sort of neutral communication such as "morning" or whatever is appropriate. If they are deliberately blocking you, it shows you haven't risen to it (even if you secretly have) if they are just ignorant they may then be thinking what a nice polite person you are and not like all those other cyclescum. Win win IMO.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  23. algo
    Member

    One of my new office co-workers is insistent she has to drive from Blacket area to Greenhill area Road, dropping her kids (old enough to walk or cycle) off at that posh school at the top of MMW. Apparently she hasn't got time for anything other than driving. I sympathise with her concerns for safety on the roads for children on bikes - hopefully though there'll be a wholly connected safe passage from Blacket to the Meadows before too long.

    The person with the unwarranted comments I suspect this time was me - I was not popular by the end of the conversation, despite attempting to be as polite as possible. I just don't see how it's better to go by car for what I consider to be such a short distance. I also don't even really believe it's quicker.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  24. Rosie
    Member

    @ Min - that is very sound but I am afraid my good morning would come out as sarcastic.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  25. neddie
    Member

    How about "g'day mate" with a New Zealand accent? Everyone likes Kiwis.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  26. Rosie
    Member

    @eddie_h - Of course, we are wonderful.

    Kia ora!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  27. ih
    Member

    Thanks @Rosie. Had to Google that. And there was me thinking it was just a brand of orange juice from the 90s.

    I've now adopted the habit of saying something to everyone I pass on NEPN, doesn't matter how inconsequential, so long as it's pleasant. Seems to work wonders.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  28. Min
    Member

    Rosie @ Min - that is very sound but I am afraid my good morning would come out as sarcastic.

    Hmm, I am not sure I can come up with any suggestions for autosarcasm!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  29. dougal
    Member

    simply to make some sort of neutral communication such as "morning"

    I also do this. I am slowly but surely creeping towards a Brian Blessed level of volume and/or cheer.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  30. paddyirish
    Member

    @ih
    I've now adopted the habit of saying something to everyone I pass on NEPN, doesn't matter how inconsequential, so long as it's pleasant. Seems to work wonders.

    That is the Fife way. A few of us have commented on this- we get a greeting or acknowledgement from almost all Fife-bound cyclists, with two known exceptions. The Brian Blessed level greeting has already been tried with partial success on one of the two...

    Posted 7 years ago #

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